Buckle for straps and the like



1952 w. A. BEDFORD, JR 2,615,223

BUCKLE FOR STRAPS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 23. 1947 INVEN TOR.

W;&5EDFORD 6a.:

' ORNEY Patented Oct. 28, 1952 BUCKLE FOR STRAPS AND THE LIKE William A. Bedford, J r., North Scituate, Mass., as-

signor to United-Carr Fastener Corporation, Cambridge, Mass.,-'a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 23, 1947, Serial No. 775,645

The present invention relates to buckles and like fasteners and more particularly to buckles of the type having spaced strap-receiving slots as are commonly employed in connection with belts, straps and the like, and the invention aims generally to improve existing buckles of that type.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of a buckle of the type above referred to capable of readily receiving a strap or belt of material normally too thick to be threaded through the spaced slots of thebuckle.

Other aims and objects of the invention will-be apparent to persons skilled in the art from a-consideration of the accompanying drawings and annexed specification, illustrating and describing a preferred construction embodying the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is an enlarged perspective view of a preferred form of buckle embodying the invention shown as applied to a strap illustrated in phantom lines;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section of a buckle in its open position to receive a strap;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2, showing the buckle in closed position; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of buckle embodying the invention. Y

Referring to the drawings; the invention-relates primarily, though not exclusively, to that type of buckle having a frame and a center piece spaced from the frame ends, providing slots through which a belt, strap or the like is woven or threaded. Such buckles may have associated therewith a suitable fastener part or device. for connection with a cooperating fastener part, usually secured or attached to an opposite end of the strap, and such fastener part or device may be associated with a frame end or center piece, as desired, and as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For purposes of illustration, I have shown the invention as embodied in a buckle of the elongated frame and center piece type having a snap fastener part associated with the center piece.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 in which the buckle comprises an elongated frame I of suitable sheet material, for example sheet metal, having side portions II and end portions I2, and providing a central opening Ifla. The center piece I3 may be integral- 1y connected with the frame along one side edge, as at I4, thereof, and has end edges I5 spaced from the end portions I 2 of the frame to provide spaced slots I6. The opposite side edge I! of the ,2 Claims. (01. 24-'198) I I 2 center piece I3 is separate from the adjacent frame side bar I I, and normally the center piece is disposed in a plane oblique to the plane of the frame II], as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to provide an. open throat between the edge I! of the center piece and the adjacent edge of the frame side bar II through which the strap or belt may be moved laterally to be positioned over the frame end bars I2 and under the'center piece I3 as viewedin Figs. 1 and 2.

The buckle in its open condition, as viewed'in Figs. 1 and 2, may be readily assembled with a strap, belt or the like merely by slipping the strap laterally edgewise beneath the center piece I 3 and over the frame end bars I2 and thereafter depressing'the center piece into the plane of the frameIlL' Suitable means are provided on one edge of the side bar I I adjacent the free edge I I of the center piece, for engaging the edge I1 and holding the center piece I3 in the plane of the frame I0. According to the form of invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the inner edge of the side bar I I may be formed with an angularly extending lip I8 adapted to be deformed or clenched into overlying relation with the free edge portion I! of the center piece I3, as shown in Fig. 3, and thus secure the center piece I3 in the plane of the frame II]. It will be noted that the section of the frame I I adjacent the lip I8 may be transversely curved as at I I a. so that the inner free edge of the lip I8 is disposed above the plane of the buckle frame II a distance greater than the spacing between the lip I8 and the free edge I I of the center piece.

The center piece I3 preferably has associated therewith a fastener element adapted for fastener cooperation with a cooperating fastener preferably secured to a spaced end portion of the strap, belt or the like. In the illustrated embodiments the fastener member advantageously is a snap fastener stud member though it will be understood that other forms of fastener may be used.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the fastener member comprises a stud 20 having a base 2| and secured to one face of the center piece I3, which may be slotted as at 22, by an attaching member 23 preferably in the form of an eyelet upset within the stud. This method of securing a stud member to an apertured supporting part is old per se and forms no part of the present invention, other than as one suitable means for embodying a fastener part with the buckle. Alternately, the stud member 2011 may be drawn 3 from the body of the center piece I 3 as an integral part thereof, as shown in Fig. 4.

The center piece I3 of the, buckle preferably has associated therewith a strap-gripping means for gripping the material of a strap or belt disposed between the center piece and the frame member. Accordingto the form of invention shownin Figs. 1, 2 and-.3, the strap-gripping means may comprise toothed or serrated edges 25 on the fastener attaching member 23, which is shiftable in the slot 22, and thus may be moved into biting or gripping engagement with thestrap. Alternatively, the strap-gripping means;may--be:in'the form of prongs, teeth or serrations r'25a;-on.the edge portions of the centerpiece l3 opposite the frame end bars I2 as is'shown in Fig. 4.

From the above it willbe apparent .thatthe invention provides a buckle of simple construction, which may readily be assembled with straps, belts and the like of such bulky and thick material as vnotto. be passable through the slotsbe- ,tween the center piece i3 and the frame =end por- ,tions, 12. V r f :WhileQI have illustratedand.described one'preferredembodiment of;the invention,-I-do not intend tobe: r-estr-ictedthereto as the scope of the invention is best defined; in the-appended claims.

. .-I claim: I

1-. A buckle i comprising a frame having opposed side portions and opposed spaced end -bars providing a strap-receiving opening therebe- ,tween, :a centerpiece integral with saidv frame being ofra length substantially less than the 'distanoe between the inner edges of said end bars .to formstrap-receiving slots therebetween, .a'sec- ,tion of thezframe side portion adjacentthe: free a strap between said center piece and above the 'frameend bars, said center piece being bendable into'theplane' of the side bars of said buckle and said retaining lug being bendable into overlap- .ping relation with the free side edge portion of said center piece.

-2.' A buckle as defined in claim 1 wherein the end edges of the center piece opposite the frame I end barsare serrated.

' WILLIAM A. BEDFORD, JR.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of recordin the f le of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS 

